Apparatus for harvesting the constituents of wood and vegetable substances, distilling and purifying them.



w. K. FREEMAN. APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING THE CONSTITUENTS OFWOOD AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, DISTILLING AND PURIFYING THEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4,I9I3,. 1,231

Patented June 26, 191 7.

W. K. FREEMAN. APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING THE CONSTITUENTS 0F WOOD AND VEGE TABLE SUBSTANCES, DISTILLING AND PURIFYING THEM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1913.. LSLQ Patented June 26, 1917.

Y 4 SHEETSS|IEET 2.

&

w. K. FREWAN. APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING THE CONSTITUENTS 0F WOOD AND DISTILLING AND PUHIFYING THEM.

S APPLICATIQN FILED AUG-14.1913. LQWLWK Patented June 26, 1917 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES,

W. K. FREEMAN.

S E C N A T S B U S E L B A T E G E V APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING THE CONSTITUENTS 0F WOOD AND DISTILLING AND PURIFYING THEM APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. ms.

Patented June 26,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

I IIIII/I/IlI/IIIII/I/I III/IIJIG IUNI sas PATENT @FFICE.

WALTER K. FREEMAN, OF OSCAWANA NEW YORK. APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING THE CONSTITUENTS or w STANCES, DISTILLING AND PURIFYIN 001) AND VEGETABLE SUB- G THEM.

Patented June 26 191i 7. Application filed August 14., I

1913. Serial N 0. 784,839.

To all whom it may concern: a frame for holdi Be it known that I, WALTER K. FREEMAN, operating parts.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Fig. 2 is a front or end elevation of the Oscawana, in the county of Westchester and same, and

State of New York, have invented certain Fig. 3 is a viei new and useful Improvements in Apparatus reversed end of Fig. 2.

for Harvesting the Constituents of Wood and Vegetable Substances, Distilling and tain urifyin Them; and the following is a is o specification. or from the cradle where they are rotated, 60

lllS 1nvent1on relates to an improved apheated, or operated upon.

paratus forextracting, separating, liberating Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing and harvesting the products from mixtures three containers connected for operating in accordance with my 1nvent1on and a pump ng and supporting the useful in arts and industries, medicines and manufactures, and to the treatment of wood and vegetable substances for liberating essential products and for operating and disposing of the spent materials.

Among the important objects of the invention are, to provide a means for economically operating upon the materials from which extracts are to be obtained and in this regard the apparatus is suitable for treating showing comminuted wood intended for pulp, to free elevation. it from deleterious substances lnjurious to Fig. 8 shows a modification of the arthe ultimate fiber; for treating sliced or rangement of the shaft. comminuted beets for ex tracting the'sugar Figs. 9 and 10 are modifications of the constituent, especially; for treating various part R shown in Fig. 7, and

kinds of wood to secure their essential oils; Fig. 11 shows a modified form of ap for treating various kinds of wood and vegetus as a whole that will table substances; to secure their respective rately.

ingredients such as acids, aromatics, volatile In the following description letters re oils, gums and sugar constituents; for treatsent various parts of the a ing for extraction substances of mineral numerals represent the details of them, like origin, such as comminuted ores, or of anlfigures represent like parts or mal origin such as bones or wool, and to prodetails throughout the various sheets of vide containers interchangeable in operation. drawings. These containers are provided when neces- In Fig. 1, A represents a container, B so sary, with suitable resistant linings. the frame, (1 the lower cradle, D an electric he form of apparatus with the connecmotor, E and F manholes through which the tions and operating parts that appear to be containers are charged and discharged, G,

most desirable are shown by the accomthe upper cradle, Hthe retainer bars, fitting panying drawings.

The closed chamber opin a socket in the end of shaft R, whi crating as a digester or still, I have desigvents the shaft R from turning within the nated as the container, and container, K a stufling box, P a ball b Figure 1 represents a side elevation showmore clearly shown in Fig. 7 at 15.

ing it and the cradles in which it is oper- In Fig. 6 the construction of the frame ated, an electric motor for rotating it, and B is more clearly illustrated. Again refer- 10c multiple, series, or multiple-s of the respective containers, and other pipe connections through which gas or Va be directed to flow in a simil ig. 6 is a plan view showing a container and supporting frame and some of the parts of the cradle in which it operates.

is a sectional view of a container some of the internal mechanism in parabe described sepaprering to Fig. 1, to the frame B and B there are attached the various parts of lower cradle C as shown in the various figures and sheets of drawings, and G the upper cradle which is pivoted, as indicated in Fig. 1, so as to adjust itself to any variations there may be between the collars or tracks 3 and 4. The container A is rotated upon the rollers 5, 6, 6, 7, 8 and 8, by means of electric motor 1) operating a pinion that engages in gear rack 2. C represents the supports between which the rollers 5, (3 and 6 operate, and members 9 and 10 serve similar urpose for retaining the rollers 7, 8 and 8. 14 and 14 indicate details of lower cradle C and the construction of the supporting framework. 12 and 13 are ring lugs attached to containers A into which a chain or other device may be hooked for lifting it out of the cradles. This is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. X, Fig. 1, indicates a car and shows the position of the container at rest ready to discharge its contents.

In Fig. 7, R represents a central shaft.

This shaft is hollow. W and W represent flanges or projections arranged on the innor side of the container A which serves for changing the position of the contents or stirring them. a to or represent propellerlike blades or projections forming a part of and connected with sleeves I) to I) which are arranged upon and securely fastened to the shaft R. Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of the hollow shaft R showing inlets 17 and 19 leading, by means of ipes V and U to right-angle extensions Wand U and also showing inlet 18' and 20 and intake 20. T is a strainer, head, or drum. 16 indicates holes drilled into the chamber case to form a strainer. A covering of woven wire might be used instead. A brush or scraper S for removing any substance that may collect upon the strainer T, may be provided.

When a fluid is caused to flow into pipe 19 it passes through pipe U out through the holes' 22 arranged in the bent part U and upward through the substances contained in container A and is drawn into the holes 16 of the strainer T and out through ipe 18. When gas or vapor is admitted at the point 17 it flows through pipe V and out of holes 23 in V upward through the contents of container A and into orifice 20 and out through the pipe 20.

Fig. 10 represents practically the same sort of an arrangement varying only in details of construction, the purpose being identical. Fig. 8 shows a modification for the arrangement of shaft R, which, as shown, may be withdrawn to provide a passage through the ball bearing 15 for flowing in or withdrawing liquids from the container A. J Fig. 4 indicates a rheostat and switch for controlling the motor D, H a rod hook for holding retaining bar ll out of position, L a spring for keeping the retainer bar ll in the slot I of the shaft It to prevent it from turning. 7 is a pin passing through the upper cradle G and roller 7 to permit rocker arms 9 and 10 to freely move to adjust the rollers 8 and 8 to position and to the contour of the collar 4. 24 shows a guide and support for the shafts of the electric motor D, which is provided with a universal joint 26, and made adjustable by means of the spring 25 which serves to force it upward against the beveled gear 2. The object of this arrangement is to allow for any inaccuracies there may be in gear 2, and also for the pinion 27 to readily engage itself in said gear 2 when the containers are placed in the cradle.

The diagrammatic drawing, Fig. 5, indicates a pump 30'connected with pipes 31 and 32 attached to branches for circulating an extracting solution or fluid in the multiple, through pipes arranged in hollow shaft R and indicated by 18' and 19 of container A, as 18 and 19* of container A and as 18 and '19" of container A This allows for the circulation of the extracting solution in and out of each of the containers independent of the others and collectively through the pump 30 where. it is more or less blended, and eachtime it is flowed through the substances contained in the respective containers it assumes more and more a uniform quality of saturation.

In treating sugarbeets it is not desirable to have the pump connected directly to the inflowing sugar beet solution as it would most likely deliver some air to the slices of beets, and this is objectionable, therefore, the suction side of the pump is used for drawing off the liquid which is delivered 'to a reservoir 34 located far enough above the containers to create a proper workingpressure. 7

Any desired gas or vapor either reactive or neutral may be circulated through the containers in a manner similar to that heretofore discussed, or.it may be introduced serially, that is to say, the gas or vapor may be introduced in container A through pipe 17 and withdrawn through pipe 20 and sent into A through pipe 17 and withdrawn through pipe 20 and sent into A through pipe 17 and Withdrawn through pipe 20 and disposed of in any desired manner. It is obvious that the extracting solution or fluids may be circulated serially through the various containers, it being only a matter of pipes and fittings to accomplish this result.

Under some conditions in practice it may be found desirable to withdraw the cooking or extracting solutions from the container or fluids through various containers arranged in multiple or series, 1n order that the sub stance flowed through them may receivetreatment or be allowed to settle.

the time of this comblned action of vaccum of the container being slowly revolved by the electric motor D or by other suitable means.

In Fig. 11 there is shown a self-contained apparatus made substantially in accordance with the above description. The supporting cradle is somewhat difi'erent from that heretofore described, the means for charging and discharging the contents of the container are varied, and the means for heating the substances operated upon are changed so as to permit the use of direct or so indirect heat.

The drawing shows the container A in R represent, substantially, and have for their purpose the same object as the pipes 17, 18, 19 and 20, of Fig. 9.

This particular apparatus constructed according to my invention and with consideration for the detail herein set forth, has many uses. It may be operated as a small apparatus in laboratories for research work, or by druggists for mixing and extracting purposes. It may be used as a still for separating volatile substances at different temperatures for laboratories in research work in wood pulp industries, it may be used for the extraction of ores, for degreasing wool, and it may be used to a great advantage in the manufacture of soaps and similar products, and, of course, it may be used with or without the attachment R, and affords a substantial convenient apparatus for use in connection with almost every industry that involves the question of extraction or sepa- 35 ration of substances or for cooking or mixing compounds. It can be made of small or great capacity, and yet retain the features of simplicity and convenience. It is, as indicated above, particularly adapted for extraction of sugar beets.

In operating the apparatus the container A may be arranged in any suitable manner, preferably it is supported in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

mounted upon a foundation column Ywhich The object in arranging the containers in is provided with supporting projections 45 the manner indicated in Fig. l is to provide and 47 so that when the cradle C is rotated for a clear space around each operating unit 35 upon the pin 41 a stop is provided that afof the plant; to allow the containers to be fords means for properly locating the cradle lifted out of the cradle whenever desirable and container A, so that it can be readily or necessary; to maintain an independent charged or discharged through the port F. operation of each container arranged as a The container A is rotated by means of battery; to provide for the interchanging of 46 an electric motor indicated by the dotted the containers from one set of cradles to anlines D. 25 represents a bearing or supother in order that the whole equipment may port for the motor shaft, 26 the shaft and be uniformly interchangeable, and yet inde- 27 the pinion engaging the gear that suppendent of each other so that a battery of ports the rollers that operate in connection containers may be operated to accomplish a 45 with gear 2, and 5 and 6 indicate the rollers uniform result such as the extraction of the on the lower rest upon which A is rotated. sugar constituents from beet or oil or turpen- 1m 42 represents an adjustment screw, 43 a fire tine from pinaceous wood, or each of the box. 46 indicates the position of the fire containers may be operated to accomplish a directed upon the bulged part 4A of the different result; that is to say, one container 50 container A. may be used for extracting turpentine, an-

forth to establish a battery or series of digesters, or containers, or diifusers that may 1361 be operated in multiple, in series or independent of each other in order that the greatest scope of usefulness may be obtained.

60 during this change of position the con- In operating a plant established in ac tainer may be rotated by means of the eleccordance with the invention it is obvious tric motor D without interfering with any that if a battery of ten containers were to be of the internal working parts, and it is o erated there might be twenty-five or more also to be observed that the holes indicated o them in use, some of which would be operthrough the pipe V,

ating in the cradle, some being charged or discharged, while others were being cleaned or repaired.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, effective means for extracting juice from sugar beet, and 1n order that those interested in the art of beet sugar making may be able to comprehend the significance of the invention it appears necessary to give the following description of the art.

Sugar beets are composed of cellular tissue,.traversed lengthwise by vascular tissue and enveloped in an epidermal system of cells. Irrespective of the shape of the cells or their dimensions they are supported by an intercellular substance and spaces filled with air, or oxygen, and it has hitherto been impossible to extract the sugar base from the living cells of the beet because of the impenetrability of the utricle sacs or little air cells which are distributed generally throughout the tissue. I term the air contained in these cells organic oxygen.

Some authorities refer to the little air cells as protoplasmic utricle and contend that such sacs are detached from the cell walls of the tissue by heat, and that sugar juice is extracted by diffusion and slowly lixiviated by water, but it is not entirely clear what takes place in the cells themselves and no authority is able so far, to tell whether the cell walls distributed through the beet tissues are closed membranes or separate osmotic cells, and therefore no exact theory can be advanced, and this whole state of the industry is problematical.

There is another doubtful condition existing in the beet sugar industry which relates to the dimensions and character of the diffusers or percolators, and to the proper thickness of the slices of beet. Usually diffusers have caused much dissatisfaction and have failed in their purpose to uniformly extract the sugar contents of the beet, and those who have studied beet sugar factories have found it impossible to formulate a satisfactory system for preparing the slices of beets for the diffusers, or means to regulate the method of extraction. In other words, heretofore there has been no satisfactory apparatus obtainable for securing the sugar constituents of beets economically to the best advantage.

My invention embraces simple and orderly steps in a systematic method for uniformly treating the sugar beets to extract their valuable contents. To accomplish this in accordance with my invention sugar beets are cut in moderately thick slices or strips, say one-eighth to five-eighths of an inch in thickness and then are placed in one of the series of containers. Hydrogen gas, which has great diffusive power, is then admitted Fig. 9, for the purpose of expelling all the attached or casual air that may surround or be contained in the slices or strips of beets, as well as that originally contained, then the container is caused to revolve slowly and warm water is admitted through pipe U and is withdrawn through strainer T and pipe 17. The hydrogen gas is expelled by the inflowing warm water, but it has served its purpose to prevent oxidation. It also has replaced in part, at least, the air or oxygen in the utricle cells. The inclined position of the digester permits any heavy impurities to fall clear of the stirring'blades and to move down the inclined wall toward the bottom where it may be removed. Likewise floating impurities make their way to the top; impurities of both types being enabled, by reason of the incline, to free themselves quickly from the stirrer and thus avoid largely any contaminating effect upon the fluid contents, by reason of their being broken up or beaten too much by said stirrers.

After a battery of seven or eight containers have been fil ed with slices of beets and placed in the cradle and the air has been removed by the introduction of hydrogen gas and warm water has flowed to and through them, they may be operated in series, multiple, or multiple-series, but in whateverway they are operated care should be taken not to introduce air in them, and to obviate this it is best to draw the juice solution from the containers by means of a pum and force it into a reservoir located considerably above the inlet of the pipe U and have it connected to the battery of containers and provided with suitable pipes, valves, and connections for directing the flow of the beet juice solution to any one or more of the containers as may be desired. I do not limit myself to hydrogen, as other gases, non-oxidizing, may be used.

From this description it will be understood that a battery of containers is made almost continuously operative, there being scarcely any interruptions in the process of extraction so that no time need be lost in the charging or discharging the containers, and it is also obvious that there is an even flow of the beet juice solution through the slices of beets, and if the water be kept at the regular temperature there is no danger of overheating them to cause coagulated masses of beet stuff that will prevent the slowly moved about in the drogen gas to free them of about them.

When apparatus made in accordance with my invention is used for making wood pulp, practically the same conditions must be observed and hydrogen gas is admitted in about the same way and for the same purposes, and this is true when it is desired to harvest essential oils from wood or vegetable substances. \Vhcn the apparatus is used in the manufacture of soap or for compounding or mixing of substances, modifications may have to be made to meet the requirements found best in practice, and of course, there are many conditions 'possible where the central hollow shaft R may well be omitted, and in other instances where the containers are used in the manner indicated in Fig. 11 or as a still, the flanges W and W, and the hollow shaft R may all be omitted, but rarely would it be desirable to dispense with the feature of rotation and means for mixing or stirring the substances under treatment. Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective means for charging the digesters, containers or diffusers in one place, sending them to another place where the contents can be treated or operated upon, and then removing them from this place and conveying them to another where they may be emptied, and the contents disposed of in the most profitable way.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for extracting from vegetable fibers soluble constituents, comprising in combination a rotatable container, cradles for supporting said container in an inclined position, a fixed hollow shaft mounted lengthwise of the container, means for rotating the container about the shaft, and means for introducing into the container, through the hollow shaft, various solvent or chemically active agents, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for extracting from vegetable fibers soluble constituents, comprisin combination a rotatable container, cradles for supporting said container in an inclined position, a fixed hollow shaft mounted lengthwise of the container, means for rotating the container about the shaft, means for introducing into the container, through the hollow shaft, various solvent or chemically active agents, and means for circulating and withdrawing said agents.

3. An apparatus for extracting from a mixture of soluble and insoluble matters, the soluble ones, rotatable container mounted in an inclined position, a hollow shaft passing through said container, releasable means for holding said shaft against rotation, means for ropresence of hythe air upon or tating the container about for introducing and withdrawing fluids through said hollow shaft, continuously, and means for causing the circulation of said fluids through the contents of the container during the period between their cnthe shaft and into the container for conduct ing several fluids through the shaft into the container, and out again, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for extracting, from a mixture of soluble and insoluble matters,

the soluble ones, comprising in combination, a rotatable container, upper and lower cradles for supporting said container in an inclined position, the upper cradle being adjustable, to said container, a gear passing around said container, a pinion engaging said gear, a motor driving said pinion, a fixed hollow shaft passing into said container, pipes lead ing from the exterior shaft and discharging into said container, a strainer on said hollow shaft, pipes leading from the hollow shaft to the exterior of said shaft whereby fluids may be passed through said pipes into the through the strainer, and through the shaft to the exterior again while the container is rotating, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for harvesting the constituents of wood which comprises, in combination, a series of rotatable containers, a fixed hollow shaft for each, inlet pipes leading through said shaft and discharging into the container,

outlet pipes leading from said hollow shaft whereby fluids may be circulated through each container, the pipes of said containers being connectible in series or in multiple, a pump for causing ,circulation and extracting, and means for said containers.

n apparatus for harvesting the constituents of wood and vegetable matters which comprises in combination a rotatable container, supporting said container, one of said cradles being pivoted in parallel to the axis of said container, rollers on said cradles,

tracks on said containers for engagement with said rollers, passing lengthwise into and through said container, a slot in the upper exterior end of said shaft, and a latch pivoted on the the shaft, means 65 mounted 75 permit proper adjustment of 30 of the said hollow container 1% and vegetable matter stirring the content of an upper and a lower cradle for a hollow shaft able, a motor for rotating said container, a variable resistance for controlling the speed of rotation, and means for circulating and withdrawing fluids through the contents of 15 said container.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER K. FREEMAN. Witnesses:

A. L. SrroNE, J. J. GARLAND. 

